WATCH: 2026 tobacco selling season to begin early March

THE Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has said the 2026 tobacco selling season will begin on the 4th of March with higher expectations on both the quality and quantity of the golden leaf following the good rains received this year.

Tobacco is one of the critical foreign currency earners for the country, generating roughly US$1.3 billion in 2024 and contributing about 30 percent of total exports.

As the world’s 4th largest producer (and largest in Africa), Zimbabwe exported over 200 million kg of tobacco between January and November 2025, with China as the dominant buyer.

In an interview during a tour of a tobacco farm in Umguza District, Matabeleland North Province, on Friday, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, said they have set a date for the 4th of March to kick-start the tobacco selling season.

“We have seen an increase in tobacco production this year. 162 000 hectares were planted compared to 144 000 in the 2024/25 summer season. So we have seen an increase in tobacco production.

“We are starting our selling season, bearing in mind that we actually have a lot of tobacco. Obviously, the good rains that we enjoyed led to growth and good tobacco leaves. Now the sunny break that happened ensured that we get a ripening of our tobacco almost at the same time, which, of course, means we have a big sale that we will do in the first week of selling,” he said.

He said they were expecting over 360 million kilogrammes (kgs) this year, which is more than what the country got last year.

Prof Jiri said they were optimistic that the kgs could be more than that because the quality this year was much better owing to the good rains.

“We have also seen a huge production in Matabeleland in terms of the tobacco farmers trying out tobacco in the not-so-common production areas. So in Matabeleland, both North and South, as well as Midlands, we have seen an increase in terms of farmers growing tobacco and venturing into tobacco.

“What we would want is to encourage them that when they grow this leaf, they must not just sell, but must also venture into value addition, even primary value addition, where they just cut it out to have cut rags. But if we can get to the tobacco and cigarette sticks, even better,” he added.

He called for value addition and beneficiation of tobacco in the country, with the increased production of the golden leaf being witnessed.

The Permanent Secretary commended the Umguza farmer for a good tobacco crop.

First-time tobacco farmer in Umguza District’s Ward 19, Mr Mark Soper, said deforestation was becoming a problem in most areas where tobacco is grown; however, in Matabeleland, they use more natural resources to dry it.

“This is the first season we are trying tobacco, it’s a big job as a first-time tobacco farmer, and we are hoping that next year we will have got a bit more experience so that we open up more land,” he said.

“This year we will be putting maize, and we keep on rotating it with tobacco. The maize will obviously go to fodder and grain for grinding. This is a big undertaking to do tobacco, and we hope to be successful. We encourage farmers in the area to also try to join us for the following season.”